What Is Acupuncture And Is It Effective?
If you are looking for some proof of how mainstream acupuncture has
become check out this photo of Oprah Winfrey getting acupuncture with
Dr. Oz looking on. Oh, this show was about the effectiveness of
acupuncture.












And there is this from CNN in Atlanta, GA -- Dr. Andrew Weil wasn't sure
exactly how he hurt his knee; all he knew was that it was painful. But
instead of turning to cortisone shots or heavy doses of pain medication,
Weil turned to the ancient Chinese medicine practice of acupuncture. "It
worked -- my knee felt much better," says Weil.

You may not know it but acupuncture refers to more than just sticking
needles in people. Acupuncture is actually a powerful medical diagnostic
and healing system based upon profound understanding of the body's
energy systems at a deeper level than what we know as Western or
Allopathic medicine. Acupuncture and its various healing processes and
procedures promotes healing, strengthens the immune system, prevents
disease, controls pain, and increases both functional ability and the quality
of peoples lives.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is a well-developed primary and
preventative health-care system based on natural energetic laws. Dating
back over 3,000 years in written documentation in Chinese history, the use
of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is widespread in Asia, Europe and in
the U.S.

While the effect of acupuncture is symptom relief, it is much more than
this. Acupuncture has served over the centuries as intervention to re-attune
a person to the dynamic balance of health. Those who receive acupuncture
often not only heal physically, but experience new and profound states of
peace, clarity and harmony through treatment which often has lasting
impact.
Acupuncture & Alternative
Medicine Healing Center
Call now to get your free 20 minute phone consultation or
to schedule your first appointment to improved health!
(941) 926-4711
How Does Acupuncture Work?

As a system of medicine acupuncture uses natural laws, and energetic principles
rooted in the natural world with the application of very thin solid-body, single-use
disposable needles, electricity, light or pressure to specific points on the body.
Each point provides a specific function or set of functions in the body to regulate
various aspects of the body. Acupuncture accesses and balances the energetic
systems of the body. The acupuncturist affects specific points grouped along
certain lines of energy called channels or meridians which run along the surface of
the body and then go deeply inside the body to connect to its pertaining organ.
Each organ in the body has its own meridian or channel. Disease can be prevented
or treated by stimulating or reducing the flow of vital energy called Qi (chi) to get
the desired effect.

Pharmaceutical companies create medications that can suppress or stimulate
energy within the body, but often with incredibly harsh side effects because they
try to do with artificially created chemicals what acupuncture does directly and
energetically communicating with the body so that it adjusts its own
electro-chemical balance.

Studies indicate that acupuncture influences the central and peripheral nervous
system, as well as the autonomic nervous system. Evidence shows that
acupuncture causes the release of endorphins from the brain which makes
acupuncture particularly effective in pain control.

However not only does acupuncture reduce or eliminate pain, this pain relieving
effect is not due to masking the pain like drugs do, but rather to the healing of the
underlying pathology or trauma.

Among a host of factors, acupuncture affects blood sugar, cholesterol, triglyceride
levels, the function of the gastrointestinal system as well as every other organ
system of the body and the activity of the endocrine system. Acupuncture works
with the body by strengthening and balancing the energy of the body's systems. It
improves circulation and allows the body to heal itself more quickly and more
completely.

What Does Acupuncture Feel Like And What Can I Expect?

Acupuncture needles are gently inserted at the specific acu-point locations
mentioned above. Insertion is painless and often followed with a sensation of
tingling, distention, radiating electric like sensations or traveling warmth. Most
people are surprised at the depth of relaxation, the movement of energy they feel
in their body and the sense of well-being that occurs from the re-balancing of
energy.

Alternatively, for those who would prefer alternative stimulation of the points, we
can use micro-current, light or pressure.
How Effective Is Acupuncture?

The National Institutes of Health issued a formal statement regarding the
effectiveness of Acupuncture stating its safety and promise in treating many
conditions for which western medicine has little to offer.

The 1997 NIH Consensus Statement concludes that,
"promising results have emerged, for example, showing efficacy of acupuncture in
adult postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative
dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation,
headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain,
osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma, in which
acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or
be included in a comprehensive management program. Further research is likely to
uncover additional areas where acupuncture interventions will be useful."

Dr. Brian Berman, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University
of Maryland School of Medicine, has done a series of studies showing
acupuncture's benefits for osteoarthritis of the knee.

In 1999, eight academic medical centers, including Harvard, Duke and Stanford,
banded together with the purpose of encouraging research and education on
alternative medicine. Eight years later, the Consortium of Academic Health Centers
for Integrative Medicine has 38 member universities, and has gathered evidence
about what practices have solid science behind them.

Here, from experts at five of those universities, is the number one alternative
medicine practice is among the most promising that have solid science behind
them. Guess what? It was Acupuncture for pain. Hands, down, this was the No. 1
recommendation from the panel of experts. They also recommended acupuncture
for other problems, including nausea after surgery and chemotherapy.

According to the results of a recent national study conducted by the National
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) 1 in 10
US Adults has tried acupuncture. This means that 20 million American Adults have
tried acupuncture. 24% of those who tried it were extremely satisfied, 24% were
very satisfied and 34% were satisfied. Only 8% of those who tried it said they
were not at all satisfied. This means that acupuncture has helped 82% of the
people who have tried it. People don't choose to do something over and over again
for thousands of years that doesn't work.